Mail-box signal



May 10, 1927.

J. NoRDlN MAIL BOX SIGNAL Filed NOV. 27, 1925 Ind?? or i 25 tinguished from Patented May 1o, y 1927.

UNITED STATES vv JOHN NORDIN, OF MONTICELLO, MINNESOTA.

MAIL-Box stelen..l

" l Application filed November 27, 1925. -Sbrial No. 71,841.

This invention relates to signals for mail boxes, and the primary object is to provide means ot a novel and practical nature for autoluaticalh7 raising a signal when the door of the box is opened, Co that the farmer or other owner who may live at some distance from the box can tell when mail has been placed in the box by the postman, without going to and opening the box. F urtber and 10 more specific. objects will .be disclosed in the course ot the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which: 4 Fig. 1 is a pers ective view of a well known type of mail ox, the same being provided with lnyl improved signal.

Fig. 2 is a Aperspective view similar to Fig. 1, but .showing-the signal in a raise( position. y Y Fig. 3 is a top view' of the box as shown in Fig-2. y

Fig. 4 is a modification 'showing the application of my invention to a mail box having an upwardly swinging door, as disthe downwardly opening door shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is an end View of the box shown in Fig. 4, and showing the signal as raised.

Referring to the drawing more partielllarly-and by reference characters, A designates a common type ofmail box having a f' door B which hinges as at C and clasps. shut as at'D. Upon one 'side ot the box A is )ivotally secured, as at 'tla lever 7, having a` weight 8, at its rear end. andY a signal or flag 9, at its front end.y The Hag 9 is preferably curved, as shown, and not flat, so that when it is in a raised position it can readily be seen from a distance even when the ob- 4 server is directly in front or behildit, .which couldnot of course be done if the Hag were.

straight or flat. .The lever is held down or ina horizontal inactive position by a pin or extension 10 on the door. Thus, when the postlnan opens the door B, to place mail in the box, be automatically releases the in 10 from the. lever 7. permitting the weight 8 to fall and raise the flag 9. When. the owner then removes the mail he replaces the lever to the position "ho'wn in Fig. 1. 60

'-'ln the moditication shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the box E is of the tv )e having an upwardl swinging cover F,wll1ich is hinged as at The lever T is pivoted on one end of the box and has a notch 11 for locking engagement 65 ,with the cover pin 1Q. The opening of the cover releases the signal in substantiallv the same manner as 1n the box shown in Flgs.

l 1, 2 and 3.

It is understood that suitable modifica- 0 tions may be made in the general design and structural details of the invention as herein shown and described, provided, however, that said modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention, what I 'claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A mail box having a hingedly secured 7 door, a stop member rejecting laterally from the door, a lever plvoted to the cide of the box and having freedom for completo rotating movement, said lever having a rela'-` tively long` signal carrying end for releas- 75 able engagement withsaid stop. and a relatively short, weighted end adapted' to be passed by the stop without abutting the same when the door is closed.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JOHN NORDIN. 

